Heating system

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes a heating system for use with a primary source of heat, such as a gas hot air furnace, or the like. A first conduit formed with perforations therethrough conveys hot exhaust gases generated by the furnace to a flue. A second conduit carrying a fluid is coiled about the first conduit in close proximity thereto so as to permit a transfer of heat to said fluid from exhaust gases escaping from said perforations and contacting said second conduit. A third conduit houses the first and second conduits and conveys exhaust gases that have escaped through said perforations to the flue. Sleeve means intermediate the first and second conduits control the rate of said heat transfer.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 458,105, filed Apr. 5, 1974and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,916,991, granted Nov. 4, 1975.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to heating systems, and is moreparticularly directed to a heating system capable of cooperativelycapturing otherwise wasted heat of exhaust gases generated by a furnace.

2. The Known Art

Considerable attention and much discussion is being given to ournational and world energy resources. Problems of fuel and power supplyare now the concern of the home owner, the industry executive, as wellas many of us who in the past have taken our heating and power suppliesfor granted. Perhaps a dividend of more recent energy crises has beenthe resulting reexamination of our energy reserves and the manner inwhich we presently use and waste energy. It is becoming increasinglyobvious that a more efficient use of fuels will help to offset increasesin fuel costs and will help to guarantee an unimpeded economicdevelopment for a long time to come. Conventional heating equipment hasnot escaped our scrutiny and it is this field that the present inventionserves.

The technical literature is crowded with conventional heating and heatexchanging systems. Industrial heating furnaces, for example, areusually classified according to (1) the purpose for which the materialis heated; (2) the nature of the transfer of heat to the material; (3)the method of firing the furnace; or (4) the method of handling materialthrough the furnace. Home heating furnaces, on the other hand, areusually characterized by the fuel consumed and the medium being heated-- such as hot air, steam, hot water, etc.. Most furnaces or boilersgenerate a relatively hot exhaust medium which is ultimately conveyed tothe environment or, in the case of more sophisticated systems, torecycling apparatus. In the case of hot exhaust gases, for example, agreat deal of energy is wasted or not recaptured by the simple dischargeof these gases at elevated temperatures into the atmosphere.

Conventional efforts to reclaim or recycle otherwise lost heat energyare best illustrated in equipment commonly referred to as economizersand air heaters. Economizers serve as traps for removing heating fromflue gases and, as the name "economizer" implies, this type of unit isable to yield the user considerable savings in costs of fuel.Economizers are usually found in industrial applications in which theyperform as feed water heaters which receive water from boiler feed pumpsand deliver it at higher temperatures to steam-generating apparatus. Insuch conventional units, a forced-flow, convection heat-transferarrangement consisting of a bank of steel tubes is supplied feed waterat pressures greater than that of a generating section and at a ratecommensurate with steam output of the system. Gas flow contacts theexternal surfaces of these tubes.

Air heaters, like economizers, function as traps to reclaim heat fromflue gases, but usually make use of the air that is ultimately used forcombustion. Air heaters, by reducing outlet gas temperatures to lowervalues than is possible with economizers supplied by heated feed wateryield a gain in over-all thermal efficiency. These units are usuallycategorized as being either recuperative or regenerative types. However,both types depend upon a convection transfer of heat from a gas streamto a metal or other solid surface, followed by convection transfer fromthe solid to the cooling air.

Of course, there are many other types of heat exchangers known to theart which serve to reclaim what would otherwise be lost heat energy,many of which circulate mediums at different temperatures in closeenough proximity to one another to permit an exchange of heattherebetween. However, such arrangements and equipment are usuallycostly to purchase and maintain, rather complex in their structuralconfiguration, and not adaptable for use with both home as well asindustrial heating systems.

OBJECTIVES OF THIS INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating systemcapable of cooperatively deriving its source of heat energy from theexhaust medium generated by an existing heating system.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide both primaryand secondary heating systems, wherein the secondary systemcooperatively derives its source of heat energy from the exhaust mediumgenerated by the primary system.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method andapparatus for transferring heat in a controlled manner.

Yet another object is to provide a means by which to heat otherwiseunheated areas of a building or to further heat already heated areas ofa building utilizing the existing basic heating system of the building.

A further object of the invention is to provide the user, whether he bea homeowner or an owner of a larger facility, with means by which he canincrease the over-all efficiency of his existing heating system atrelatively low costs, thereby enabling him to reduce his fuel costswhile realizing greater heating system capacity.

Another object is to provide a heating system kit for use with existingheating systems, which will provide the user with the aforementionedbenefits.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a heating systemwhich overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of prior art solutionsto problems associated with such heating systems.

SUMMARY OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THIS INVENTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, hotexhaust or flue gases generated by a furnace are conveyed by a firstperforated conduit towards a flue. A second fluid-carrying conduit iscoiled about the first conduit in relatively close proximity thereto soas to permit gases escaping through the perforations of said firstconduit to contact the outer surfaces of the second conduit. Heat istransferred from the exhaust gases through the walls of the secondconduit to the fluid therein. This heated fluid is thereafter conveyedto a remote location whereupon it is caused to lose its acquired heat toa space sought to be heated; whereupon it is returned in a substantiallyclosed-loop arrangement to the coiled portion of the second conduit.Exhaust gases that have been permitted or caused to escape from theperforated first conduit are contained by a third conduit which conveysthem to the flue and which houses the first conduit and said coiledportions of the second conduit.

The flow pattern of escaping exhaust or flue gases is controlledaccording to an embodiment of this invention wherein a plurality ofspaced sleeve members are positioned intermediate and preferably incontact with one or the other or both of said first conduit and thecoiled portion of said second conduit. The presence of these sleevemembers over preselected perforations in the first conduit serves torestrict and thus inhibit the flow of exhaust gases through perforationsbeneath the sleeve members, thereby causing relatively higher flow ratesthereof within these restricted areas. The result is a unique flowpattern of gases around the coils. The sleeve members, in addition tocausing this flow pattern whereupon the rates of heat transfer asbetween the exhaust gases and the fluid are controlled, further functionas heat "sinks" which hold heat imparted to them by these same gases andconduct same directly into the walls of the second conduit coils.

In other embodiments of the present invention described in detail below,deflecting vanes are provided to yet further alter and control the flowof gases which contact the fluid-carrying coils. In all cases, however,contamination of the fluid by the often impure flue gases is preventedvia the presence of closed second conduit system.

As used in this specification, the term "heat" will be used in itsbroadest sense as energy in transit from one mass to another as a resultof a temperature difference between the two. Similarly, the term "heatexchange" or "heat transfer" shall include the propagation of heat: (1)by conduction, wherein heat passes from one part of a body to another inphysical contact with it, without displacement of the body's particlemakeup; (2) by convection, wherein heat is transferred from one place toanother within a fluid (gas or liquid) by mixing one portion of thefluid with another; and (3) by radiation of heat in the form of radiantenergy propagated as a wave phenomenon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdescription of specific embodiments of the invention, together with theaccompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters denotesimilar elements throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic-type perspective view illustrating aheating system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevational view looking along theline 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevational view looking along line3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevational view looking along line4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cut-away perspective view illustrating thedisposition of elements of another embodiment of the heating systemaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevational view similar to that ofFIG. 3, but illustrating the embodiments of the heating system shown inFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional elevational view looking along line7--7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevational view illustrating anembodiment of the present invention wherein parts of a chimney or flueare utilized as part of the heating system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates aheating system 10 according to the present invention, in aschematic-type representation. A furnace or firebox 11 of the typenormally used to heat a private dwelling is schematically shown as arectangular box in FIG. 1, and may represent any one of a number ofdifferent types of furnaces or boilers, such as a gas or oil fired hotair furnace, for example. A burner 12 is shown in phantom outlinesituated within the base of furnace 11 and located approximately 8inches above the floor thereof. Natural gas, for example, is consumed ina combustion process which, in turn, generates one or more exhaust gaseswhich leave furnace or firebox 11 through exhaust ports 13 and 14.Exhaust ports 13 and 14 are shown formed through the rear wall 15 offirebox 11 and communicate with a transition box 16 of a conventionaltype which, in many communities, is supplied by the community PublicService Commission.

Transition box 16 is secured or held to rear wall 15 of firebox 11 byconventional fastening means which do not comprise part of the presentinvention. Box 16 is formed with a relatively centrally located exhaustopening 17 formed through its top wall 18, best seen in FIG. 2. Afitting 19, itself formed with a central bore 20, overlies exhuastopening 17 and is supported upon top wall 18 such that central bore 20and exhaust opening 17 are aligned so as to communicate with oneanother. The interface 21 between the upper surfaces of top wall 18 andthe bottom surfaces of fitting 19 is sealed sufficiently well byconventional means so as to prevent exhaust gases which leave transitionbox 16 thrugh exhaust opening 17 from escaping along interface 21.Substantially all of these exhaust gases which have entered transitionbox 16 via exhaust ports 13 and 14 leave the transition box through bore20 of fitting 19.

A perforated pipe 22 is in communicative engagement at a lower end 23thereof with fitting 19, and extends vertically upwardly from fitting 19to an elbow 24, best seen in FIG. 3. Elbow 24 may be also be perforatedor, on the other hand, may, as shown, consist of a galvanized member.Perforated pipe 22 is preferably made of steel and, as suggested in FIG.1, extends along a vertical run between fitting 19 and elbow 24 and,thereafter, in a horizontal run between elbow 24 and a flue or chimney25.

It is worth mentioning here that the presence of an elbow, such as elbow24, is not at all unusual and in fact is preferred in runs of pipingsubjected to heat. Such bends facilitate both expansions andcontractions of piping during the times when they are both heated andcooled, without inducing undesirable stresses at their extremities wherethey are supported. A designer skilled in the art will more often thannot provide one or more bends in such a line.

Referring once again to FIG. 2, a heat box or bonnet 26 is shownsupported atop and partially to the rear of transition box 16. Heat box26 is formed with forward and rearward walls 27 and 28, respectively,which, in turn, join with upper and lower heat box walls 29 and 30,respectively. Similarly, side walls 31 and 32 join the aforementionedwalls 27, 28, 29 and 30 to form the heat box enclosure or bonnet 26shown in enlarged detail in FIG. 2 as being capable of containingexhaust gases and heat given off by these same exhaust gases. Morespecifically, the juncture lines or seams 33 formed where heat box walls27 and 30, for example, meet transition box 16 are preferably but notnecessarily gas-tight.

Upper heat box wall 29 is formed with an opening 34 which communicateswith and is sealed by the lower end 35 of an outer pipe 36. As shown inFIGS. 1-3, outer pipe 36 extends along a path which is substantially butnot necessarily coaxial with respect to the path of perforated pipe 22to flue or chimney 25 to which outer pipe 36 is secured with the aid ofmounting plate 37. As can be seen from the drawings, the use of aperforated pipe 22 to convey exhaust gases from heat box 26 to flue 25will result in the escape of predetermined quantities of these exhaustgases through the perforations 38 in pipe 22. One of the purposes of thepresence of outer pipe 36 is to both contain and convey these escapedgases, which will be further described below, to flue or chimney 25.FIGS. 1 and 3 further illustrate the presence of conventional insulation39 which, while preferred, is in no way necessary for the presentinvention to fully operate according to its intended functions.

In the portion of the run of perforated pipe 22 where it extends in asubstantially horizontal path between elbow 24 and flue 25, a pluralityof sleeve members, the number of which depends upon the length of therun of perforated pipe 22, encircle perforated pipe 22 at spacedlocations. FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate sleeve members 40, 41 and 42 asbeing spaced from one another such that this gap between adjacent sleevemembers extends for a distance of approximately one-half the length ofthe sleeve members themselves. In other words, for a plurality of sleevemembers which are 18 inches in length each, the distance between thesleeve members along perforated pipe 22 is preferably approximately 9inches. Of course, sleeve members 40, 41 and 42 may be of varyinglengths and the spacing between these sleeve members may also varywithout departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

While not specifically shown in the drawings, a gap between the innersurfaces of sleeve members 40, 41 and 42 and the outer surfaces ofperforated pipe 22 may exist and may amount to 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch.Thus, exhaust gases which will escape through perforations 38 will berelatively more inhibited from escaping in those areas of perforatedpipe 22 over which a sleeve member is located. On the other hand,exhaust gases may escape more freely from perforations 38 formed throughthe walls of perforated pipe 22 in those areas in which there are nosleeve members present. Exhaust gases escaping from perforated pipe 22and contacting any one or more of sleeve members 40, 41 and 42 willtransfer heat held by the exhaust gases directly to the sleeve memberswhich, in turn, will transfer this heat to coiled fluid-carrying tubing43, to be described now below.

A distinct, closed-loop water system 44 is shown in FIG. 1 to consist ofa run of preferably 1/2 inch diameter copper tubing 43 which extends ina unique configuration. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate tubing 43 entering heatbox 26 through lower wall 30 thereof and thereafter joining andcommunicating with a reservoir tank 45. Tank 45 contains a predeterminedquantity of fluid carried by tubing 43 of closed-loop system 44 --preferably water. Tank 45 is supported by and sits atop top wall 18 ofheat box 26 in relatively close proximity to perforated pipe 22. Tubing43 enters reservoir tank 45 at a point designated numeral 46 in FIG. 2.The arrows adjacent tubing 43 in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate the direction offlow of fluid within tubing 43, induced by means to be described in moredetail below. Tubing 43 leaves reservoir tank 45 at a point 47 spacedfrom point 46 and thereafter extends in a helically coiled configurationabout perforated pipe 22. This coiled configuration of tubing 43continues from point 47 where the tubing leaves reservoir tank 45, alongthe path followed by perforated pipe 22 to a point 48 located along thehorizontal run of perforated pipe 22. At point 48, tubing 43 leaves itscoiled configuration and exits through outer pipe 36 and its coveringinsulation 39 to a pre-selected path to a location remote fromperforated pipe 22. This remote location may be a room which the user ofthe present invention desires to heat and, accordingly, a hot waterbaseboard radiator-type heater 49 is shown schematically in FIG. 1 asbeing interconnected with tubing 43. A circulator or pump, preferablylocated between point 48 and radiator 49 pulls fluid carried by tubing43 along the closed-loop path defined by tubing 43 and making up thesystem 44. The exact location of circulator 50 is not essential for thepresent invention to properly function and, accordingly, it is withinthe scope of the present invention to physically locate circulator 50 atother points in the path followed by tubing 43. Fluid leaving radiator49 and carried by tubing 43 enters heat box 26 at a point alreadydescribed in defining this system.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, thecoils defined by tubing 43 as it rises from point 47 about perforatedpipe 22 toward elbow 24 extend along an axis which substantiallycoincides with the axis of perforated pipe 22. This is generally trueuntil this coiled configuration reaches elbow 24 whereupon the weight ofthe coiled configuration results in the upper portions of this helicalcoil resting upon and being supported by the uppermost surfaces ofsleeve members 40, 41 and 42, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, thecoiled configuration of tubing 43 is supported by these sleeve membersalong the horizontal run of perforated pipe 22, while theinterconnection of tubing 43 with reservoir tank 45 at point 47 providesa means of supporting the vertical extension of this coiledconfiguration of tubing 43 along the path from point 47 to elbow 24. Noother brackets or means of support are required. The helical pathfollowed by the coiled configuration of tubing 43 is such that thesecoils are not relatively tightly wound or in such close contact with oneanother as to prevent the passage of gas between and about therespective coils of this configuration.

In operation, exhaust gases generated by the combustion process withinfurnace 11 may reach 750° Fahrenheit once the pilot flame initiates thiscombustion process. A control system, not shown in the drawings, permitsthe furnace or boiler to operate and comsume fuel such as gas or oil fora period of preferably and approximately 17 minutes, for example, beforethe operation of circulator 50 is initiated. During this initial 17minute start-up period, exhaust gases generated by the combustionprocess within furnace 11 leave the furnace through exhaust ports 13 and14 and, after entering transition box 16, leave this transition boxthrough exhaust opening 17 and thereafter through the bore 20 of fitting19 so as to enter perforated pipe 22. These exhaust gases heat uptransition box 16 and, after entering perforated pipe 22, leave pipe 22through perforations 38 in predetermined quantities such that theseleaving or escaping gases are permitted or caused to circulate withinheat box 26, thereby imparting the heat energy carried by these exhaustgases to heat box 26 and the various elements contained or locatedtherein. Again, during this 17 minute start-up period, the result of theentry of hot exhaust gases into heat box 26 is a heating of the fluid orwater within reservoir tank 45. This may be accurately described aspre-heating of this fluid. In addition to escaping in predeterminedquantities into heat box 26, these hot exhaust gases generated withinfurnace 11 are conveyed in predetermined quantities through perforatedpipe 22 to and toward flue or chimney 25. However, during thisconveyance of exhaust gases within perforated pipe 22 toward chimney 25,predetermined quantities of these exhaust gases are caused or permittedto escape through perforations 38 at many points along the way such thatthese escaping gases impinge upon and come into contact with the coiledconfiguration of tubing 43, the sleeve members 40, 41 and 42, and theinner walls of outer pipe 36. Exhaust gases that have not escapedthrough perforations 38 in perforated pipe 22 find their way to chimney25 whereupon they are ejected as effluent through a stack of aconventional design. Exhaust gases that have escaped from perforatedpipe 22 are prevented from entering the environment within which thisequipment is located by means of outer pipe 36, which both contain theseexhaust gases and likewise conveys them to this same chimney or flue 25.

Once the start-up or initial predetermined and preselected period, suchas 17 minutes, has expired, circulator 50 starts up and a controlledflow of fluid such as water within and through tubing 43, reservoir tank45, the coiled configuration of tubing 43, and radiator 49 is begun andcontinued. The result is a conveyance of fluid that has been heatedwithin the confines of outer pipe 36 to remote radiator 49, whereuponthe heat acquired by the fluid within the confines of outer pipe 36 istransferred to the space surrounding radiator 49 and desired to beheated by the user of the present invention. While a radiator 49 hasbeen described as the means by which this acquired heat is added tospace desired to be heated, the present invention contemplates othertypes of heat exchanging devices to be utilized in place of radiator 49.

A primary objective of the structure just described is to facilitate anefficient and controlled heating of the fluid or water carried by tubing43. We have already seen how the presence of reservoir tank 45 enables apre-heating of this fluid such that, once circulation within tubing 43is initiated after the predetermined start-up period, a quantity offluid within the closed system 44 has already been raised to pre-heattemperatures. However, both prior to and after the commencement ofcirculation within system 44 as a result of the actuation of circulatoror pump 50, a unique gas flow pattern is achieved as a result of thecombination of perforations 38 formed through the walls of perforatedpipe 22, the presence and disposition of sleeve members 40, 41 and 42,the proximate location of the coiled configuration of tubing 43 aboutand in preselected contact with sleeve members 40, 41 and 42, and thepresence of a preselected gap between these sleeve members and the outersurfaces of perforated pipe 22. These features, combined with thepresence of an outer pipe 36, result in a flow pattern and transfer ofheat from the exhaust gases to the fluid within tubing 43 in acontrolled manner. Otherwise stated, the rate of the transfer of heatfrom the exhaust gases to the fluid within tubing 43 is controlled andcan be varied via altering the sizes, disposition and arrangement of thestructural elements just described. It must also be emphasized here thatwhile FIG. 1 illustrates a run of perforated pipe 22 and its surroundingcoiled configuration of tubing 43 as being spaced from and leading tochimney or flue 25, it is well within the scope of the present inventionto utilize the flue or chimney 25 itself as an outer piping within whichthe coiled configuration of tubing 43 and a run of perforated pipe 22 ishoused and located. In such a variation, fluid or water within tubing 43may be heated within the chimney itself.

Looking now at the flow pattern of exhaust gases escaping fromperforated pipe 22 on their path toward chimney 25, it can be seen inthe vertical run of perforated pipe 22 shown in FIG. 2 that exhaustgases escaping from perforations 38 will both fill the space defined byheat box 26 and will also circulate within, between and about thevertical rise of the coiled configuration of tubing 43. Thus, the heatfrom these escaping exhaust gases will be transmitted or transferred tothe fluid carried by tubing 43 as a result of heat being transferredthrough the walls of tubing 43 to this fluid or water.

In the case of the horizontal run of perforated pipe 22 illustrated inFIG. 3, escaping gases emerging from perforations 38 will contact andimpinge directly upon the coiled configuration of tubing 43 in thoseareas where there is no sleeve member present. However, at the locationswhere sleeve members 40, 41 or 42 encircle perforated pipe 22, theotherwise freer flow of escaping exhaust gases is relatively inhibitedsuch that substantially higher velocities of these exhaust gases areachieved as a result of the venturi-type effect resulted from thepresence of restricted paths within which these escaping exhaust gasesare permitted to flow. The result is a controlled but uneven flowpattern along different points of the run of perforated pipe 22 suchthat a predetermined and controlled turbulence further enhances thetransfers of heat sought to be achieved by the present invention. Asalready stated, heat acquired by the sleeve members 40, 41 and 42 fromthese escaping exhaust gases is transferred by direct conduction attheir upper extremities through the contacting walls of the coiledconfiguration of tubing 43. Beneath the sleeve members just described,the space between these sleeve members and the coiled configurationpermits a transfer heat due to convective effects utilizing the exhaustgas medium itself to transfer this heat to the fluid carried by tubing43.

The present invention contemplates a yet further controlled flow of theescaping exhaust gases once they have emerged from perforations 38 inperforated pipe 22. This further control is illustrated in FIGS. 5-7wherein a modified form of sleeve member according to this invention isutilized. For purposes of clarity and convenience of description, commonreference characters and numerals have been used in FIGS. 5-7 on allelements of the present invention which are common or substantiallyidentical to those already described for FIGS. 1-4. Such is the case,for example, with perforated pipe 22, tubing 43, outer pipe 36,insulation 39, and perforations 38 formed through the walls ofperforated pipe 22. A primary distinction between the embodiment of thepresent invention illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, and thatillustrated in FIGS. 5-7, resides in the utilization of a unique sleevemember assembly 51, three of which are illustrated along the horizontalrun of perforated pipe 22 shown in FIG. 6. Reference numeral 51, forpurposes of convenience, has been used to designate each of these threesleeve member assemblies.

A principal distinction between the sleeve member assembly 51illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, for example, and each sleeve member 40 or41 or 42, exists in the presence of a plurality of spaced vanes 52, eachof which extends or projects outwardly from a sleeve base 53 of sleevemember assembly 51. Sleeve base 53 substantially corresponds to thestructural configuration of any one of sleeve members 40, 41 or 42.Vanes 52 are oriented on sleeve base 53 in such a manner that theirlateral surfaces 54 are curved between their respective lead ends 55 andtheir trailing ends 56. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, two annularlyextending rows of vanes 52 are located about sleeve base 53 in such amanner that adjacent vanes 52 within these rows are situated with theirrespective lead ends 55 somewhat aligned along a reference linedesignated numeral 57 in FIG. 5. Similarly, the adjacent vanes withinthe two rows of vanes just described are located such that theirtrailing ends are somewhat aligned along another reference linedesignated numeral 58. It should be noted from FIG. 5 that referencelines 57 and 58, in each instance where they extend between the alignedlead ends 55 and trailing ends 56 of adjacent vanes 52 within the tworows of vanes 52 just described are spaced from one another a finite andpredetermined distance. The distance between reference lines 57 and 58defines a clearance path along which exhaust gases that have escapedfrom perforations 38 of perforated pipe 22 upstream of sleeve memberassembly 51 may pass without interference with one or more vanes 52.Other quantities of exhaust gases, however, will contact or impinge uponcurved vanes 52 and will be deflected along the lateral surfaces ofthese vanes 52 such that a controlled rotational flow of exhaust gaseswill be maintained in the areas immediate adjacent sleeve memberassemblies 51. The presence of the clearance defined by the spacebetween reference lines 57 and 58 provides assurance that undesirablepressure drops as a result of interference will not occur. In this way,the flow of exhaust gases will be controlled but not obstructed.

In addition to providing the desired flow pattern just described, vanes52 located on sleeve bases 53, further provide means of positivelylocating and supporting the coiled configuration of tubing 43 along thehorizontal run of perforated pipe 22. This is apparent when viewingFIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. It can be seen in FIG. 6 that thepresence of vanes 52, which are preferably of substantially uniformheight, provides a relatively coaxial alignment between the coiledconfiguration of tubing 43 and the respective perforated pipe 22, thesleeve bases 53, and outer pipe 36. It should be noted here, however,that this coaxial alignment is not necessary for the present inventionto perform and function according to its intended purposes.

Looking now at FIG. 8, another modification or variation of the presentinvention is illustrated wherein a chimney installation 59 is shown.Chimney installation 59 is illustrated both as an additional feature ofthe present invention that can be added to the elements of this heatingsystem already described, or may be substituted for one or more of thecombinations previously referred to in connection with the descriptionof FIGS. 1-7. A fluid or water chamber 60 is formed by upper and lowerplates 61 and 62, respectively, which join at their outer extremities anannular plate 63 which, in turn, abuts the inner walls of flue orchimney 25. A centrally located duct member 64 is located such thatupper and lower plates 61 and 62 join the outer surfaces 65 of ductmember 64 in a fluid-tight seal, thereby defining annular fluid chamber60. The size of fluid chamber 60 and, for that matter, that of theentire chimney installation 59, may vary according to the size ofchimney 25 and other variables.

Tubing 43, corresponding to the tubing 43 already described for FIGS.1-7, is shown entering fluid chamber 60 at point 66 and leaving annularfluid chamber 60 at point 67. The arrows shown in FIG. 8 indicate thepreferred direction of fluid flow within tubing 43, thereafter intoannular chamber 60 and yet thereafter out from annular fluid chamber 60.

In one embodiment of this invention, exhaust gases carried by bothperforated pipe 22 and outer pipe 36 are discharged into chimney 25below chimney installation 59. The result is a heating of fluid withinannular fluid chamber 60 by hot exhaust gases coming into contact withlower plate 62 prior to leaving this area through duct member 64.Additional heat is supplied to fluid within fluid chamber 60 through thewalls of duct member 64 and as a result of radiation and convectiveeffects. This fluid which has acquired heat from the exhaust gases andwhich is located within annular fluid chamber 60 is conveyed by means oftubing 43 to a radiator, of the type described for radiator 49, or toany other preselected location.

It is possible for chimney installation 59 to replace the coiledconfiguration of tubing 43, should that be desired, or it is alsopossible for chimney installation 59 to augment the coiled configurationalready described for FIGS. 1-7.

The inside diameter of duct member 64 is sized so as to minimize anyadverse effects upon the stack effect sought to be achieved byconventional stack means associated with flue or chimney 25. To aid thereader, the term "stack effect" as used in this specification, refers tothe phenomenon caused by differences in density between vertical columnsof gases which, in turn, results from differences in temperature. For achimney or stack, this relation exists between the confined hot gasesand the cooler surrounding air, with equal or balanced static pressureoccurring at the top or free outlet of the chimney or stack. Themagnitude of stack effect, which will vary with height and meantemperature of the columns, can be predetermined from conventionalemperical and analytical data. This magnitude will indicate the staticdraft produced by a stack. When flow occurs, such as the flow of exhaustgases within chimney 25, a portion of the differential is used toestablish gas velocity when making computations, and the remainder isused to overcome resistance of the connected system, such as resistancecaused by the presence of chimney installation 59. This illustrates theease by which the sizing of chimney installation 59 and duct member 64may be achieved.

In applications wherein a gas hot air furnace is used with the presentinvention, chimney temperatures of 400° Fahrenheit and slightly abovewill occur. Water or fluid heated within tubing 43 has and can be raisedto temperatures exceeding 180° Fahrenheit without any problems. Yethigher temperatures can be achieved when utilizing an oil burner, forexample, wherein exhaust temperatures of 750° Fahrenheit are normal.

Several features of the present invention which may or not be apparentto the reader are worth mentioning at this point in this specification.What were previously unheated portions of a room or building or facilitymay be heated with the aid of the present invention. Air drafts inhallways, for example, may also be heated by means of this invention.The overall efficiency of the system further provides an opportunity toreduce or minimize the costs of fuel required to heat any given space.

In all of the embodiments described in more detail above, the perforatedpipe 22 is preferably made from steel with a thickness of approximately26 gauge. This perforated pipe is designed to maintain at least a 4 inchinside diameter such that various Public Service Commission requirementsare satisfied in various territories throughout the country. Of course,it is obvious and within the scope of this invention to provide aperforated pipe of a different thickness, of a different material, andof a different diameter. In all cases, the use of perforated pipe 22with either a sleeve member or a sleeve member assembly provides acontrolled confinement of gases as their flow is regulated throughperforated pipe 22 and through perforations 38 formed in perforated pipe22. The amount of heat exposed to the coiled configuration of tubing 43is regulated or controlled. The velocity of escaping exhaust gases willvary at different locations and the vanes 52 illustrated for theembodiment of this invention in FIGS. 5-7 provide yet further means ofspacing the coiled configuration of tubing 43 from perforated pipe 22,as well as causing positive flow patterns which serve to distribute theheat of the escaping exhaust gases in a predetermined and more efficientmanner.

A separate control system is contemplated by this invention wherein athermostatic switch (not shown) will initiate the operation ofcirculator 50, thereby providing a start-up and pre-heat time. Thispre-heating of the fluid within tubing 43, such as via provision ofreservoir tank 45, does away with undesirable condensation that mightoccur under conditions of certain temperature differentials. Similarly,such a control means may provide a 10 minute of other period delaybetween the time that the furnace 11 ceases to operate and the time thatthe circulator 50 ceases operation. It is contemplated that thecirculator will cease operation once fluid wihin tubing 43 reaches atemperature of 130° Fahrenheit.

The embodiments of the present invention, particularly disclosed anddescribed, are presented merely as examples of the invention. Otherembodiments, forms and modifications of this invention coming within theproper scope and spirit of the appended claims will, of course, readilysuggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of utilizing primary heat generatingapparatus to provide supplemental heat to a preselected area, comprisingthe steps of: conveying a predetermined quantity of an exhaust mediumdischarged by said apparatus along a first path in a first conduitmeans; conveying a fluid in a second conduit means along a secondsubstantially closed-loop path, a portion of which is substantiallyproximate said first conduit means; pre-heating said fluid; causingpredetermined first escaping exhaust quantities of said exhaust mediumto escape from said first conduit means at first predetermined spacedlocations along its length and to come into contact with said secondconduit means, thereby causing a transfer of heat from said exhaustmedium to quantities of said fluid; causing predetermined secondquantities of said exhaust medium to escape from said first conduitmeans at second predetermined locations along its length intermediatesaid first predetermined locations and to come into contact with sleevemeans which cover portions of said first conduit means; conveying heatreceived by said sleeve means from said second escaping quantities ofthe exhaust medium from said sleeve means to said second conduit bymeans of conduction and convection and radiation; conveying said heatedfluid quantities to an area substantially remote from said apparatus;permitting heat acquired by said heated fluid quantities to betransferred to said preselected area; and returning said fluid which haslost said heat to the preselected area to said position of proximitywith respect to the first conduit means influencing the flow of escapingexhaust medium so as to control the rate of the transfer of heat fromsaid exhaust medium to said fluid, said step of influencing includingimparting a non-linear motion to quantities of said escaping exhaustmedium, said step of imparting a non-linear motion including doing so bymeans of a plurality of vane members of substantially uniform height andcurved configuration.